Centrifugal pulp-thickener



J. T JAEGER. CENTHIFUGAL PULP THICKENEIL APPLiCATION FILEDLULYM- 1919.

1,374,377. P ten d Apr. 12, 1921.

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1. T. JAEGER. CENTRIFUGAL PULP THICKENER. APPLICATION FILED JULYM, 1919.

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JULIUS T. JAEGER, OF IROQUOIS FALLS, ONTARIO, CANADA,

GENTRIFUGAL PULP-THICKENER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 12, 1921.

Application filed July 14, 1919. Serial No. 310,645.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, JULiUs .T. Janene, a citizen of the United States of America, and resident of Iroquois Falls, in the District of Timiskaming, Province of ()ntario, in the Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Pulp-Thickeners, as described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, that form part of the same.

The principal objects of this invention are, to eliminate the losses of pulp (through the overflow or waste from a pulp or paper mill) by thoroughly separating the pulp fibers from the water and to devise a machine of the centrifugal type which will operate effectively and economically.

A further important object is to devise a machine which will require very little attention in operation and will be so balanced as to reduce friction and wear to the minimum.

The principal feature of the invention consists in the novel construction of a centrifugal machine, whereby the particles of pulp are carried toward the perimeter of a rotating casing by centrifugal action and longitudinal movement to the discharge end is effected by a flaring increase in diameter of the rotating casing, and whereby the end thrust is effectively balanced.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a machine constructed according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a cross section through the line (2-65 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a cross section through the line Z)-b of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view through the pulp conducting conduit.

In the device herein shown abase 1 supports at one end a pedestal 2 which is formed with an offset bracket structure carrying a tubular member 3. This tubular member is of an elbow formation having the perpendicular portion 4 connected with the stock supply and an inclined and flaring end 5 delivering the pulp stock in a horizontal direction.

A journal bearing 6 is mounted upon the pedestal 2 and a shaft 7 journaled in said bearing extends through a packing gland 8 in the member 3 and extends centrally through the discharge opening of said member. The opposite end of the shaft is supported in a bearing 9 which is mounted upon a casting formed with a centrally arranged tubular discharge 10 having its inlet end openlng horizontally and its discharge end 11 substantially vertical.

The member 10 is rigidly supported upon the base 1 which is provided with an opening 12 registering with the end 11.

The shaft 7 is provided with spider structures 13, 1 1 and 15 which support a casing 16 of a cyllndrical form which extends between the tubular members 3 and 10. The end of the casing 16 adjacent to the member 3 1S cylindrical while the opposite end flares outwardly. The middle spider 14 is rigidly connected to the ring structure 17 connectmg the cylindrical and flaring portions of the casing.

The spider 13 adjacent to the inlet end is provided with a conical-shaped hub 18 flaring outwardly to a flange 19, said hub and flange directing the pulp stock flowing from the discharge end 5 of the member 3 outwardly toward the casing 16.

An end flange 20 is secured to the smaller end of the casing 16 and extends inwardly behind the flanged extremity 21 of the discharge end of the tubular member 3.

Metal plates 22 are secured to the legs of the spiders and extend longitudinally of the discharge casing 16, being separated a short distance I from said casing to allow the concentrated pulp material to work through between the plates and casing for equalizing.

At the discharge end of the casing 16 the rlng structure 23 is secured around the intake end of the tubular discharge 10. This ring is hollow and the inward flange 24 thereof is of lesser diameter than the interior of the larger end of the casing 16.

The outer flange 25 extends beyond the flange 24 and curves toward and forms a continuation of the inner wall of the easing 16.

Anannular orifice 26 is formed around the ring 23 and the space between the flanges is divided into a pair of ducts 27 as shown in Fig. 3 which are semi-circular and lead to the ducts 28 which connect with the conduit 29 centrally arranged below the shaft 7.

An L-shaped flange 30 is secured to the larger end of the casing 16 and extends to the outer side of the outer flange 25 of the ring 23 and closely encircles the intake end or the tubular discharge 10 preferably in a running fit. It will thus be seen that there will be a certain amount of leakage through the joint between the flange 25 and the end of the casing 16 and this leakage fills the space 31 between the flange 30 and the ring 23. The pressure at the outward side of the ring thus balances the pressure against the inward side and prevents end thrust and consequent wear between the end of the casing and the ring. v

The centrifugal action throws the pulp particles outward and the flaring shape of the casing 16 causes said'particles to travel longitudinally thereof to the discharge ring 23. It is found necessary to use vanes or blades in order to prevent swirling but it is important that these blades be spaced from the inner wall of the revodving casing which is driven by means of the shaft 7. The heaviest pulp particles find their way ,to the outer side, that is, close to the casing and they work between the blades 22 and the interior wall of the casing and flow longitudinallyuntil they are finally discharged into the circular ring 23, from which they are conducted through the ducts 27 and 28 to the conduit 29.

The speed of rotation of the casing 16 is regulated to obtain the best separation results and when properly operated it will effect the separation of the pulp particles from the water so that a central stream of water flows through the machine and out the central discharge opening-in the member 10. r

A; device constructed as described may be so regulated thatpractically clear water maybe drawn fIOiIIl the discharge while the pulp bearing material is carried. off through the conduit 29. V

In order that the operator may ascertain the conditions of the material passing through the pulp discharge a pipe32 is secured in the casing 10 and is provided with an outwardly extending end 33 which projects close to the inner wall of the casing 16. This pipe is supported in a suitable packing gland 34 and is provided with a hand wheel 35 by means. of which it is roitated so as to swing the inward end to various positions close to and awayfrom the inner wall of the casing 16. v

' The outer end of the pipe is journaled in an elbow 36connected with apipe 37 leading through the wall of the member 10. This device is prdvided with a transparent section in; the portion of the pipe arranged l outside of the member 10 and when the operator desires to ascertain the condition of the pulp passing through the pulp discharge,'by rotating the hand wheel the end 33 may be swung into various positions and the condition ofthe material flowing.

through the discharge will be ascertained immediately, as'the outer end of the pipe will pick up the material in different zones and it may be seen as it passes through the pipe.

A machine such, as described operates very smoothly dispensing entirely with the use of screens and operates very efficiently, effecting a very great saving in pulp. The machine is of simple construction, rigid and well supported and may be manufactured and operated at low cost.

The machine herein shown is of a horizontal type but it must be understdod that the cylinder may be vertically disposed if desired. I V

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A centrifugal pulp thickener, con1pris ing, a rotatable tubular member flaring outwardly to the discharge end, a centrally lo cated conduit adapted to receive the waste water, and a hollow annular member extending within the flaring end of said tubular member and having 1&- conduit leading therefrom and forming a means for receiving a continuous flow of the thickened pulp from the inner perimeter of the rotatable tubular member.

2. A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, av rotatable tubular member flaring outpulp from the inner perimeter of the inner rotatable member at its outwardly flaring end. a

A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, a rotatable tubular member having'an outwardly flaring portion leading to the discharge end, a centrally located stationary tubular discharge, and a hollow ring encircling and rigidly supported from said tubular discharge and forming a conduit to conduct the pulp flowing from the inner perimeter of the flaring end ofthe tube.

4. A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, a rotatable tubular member flaring outwardly to the discharge end, a centrally arranged tubular discharge adapted to conduct the waste water from the tubular member, a ring encircling the inner end of the discharge member having an inner flange charge arranged centrally at one end of the rotatable tubular member, a flanged member secured to the shaft at the inlet end of the rotatable member and flaring outwardly toward the discharge end, blades extending longitudinally of the rotatable member and secured to said spiders having their outer edges spaced from the inner wall of the rotatable member, a central tubular discharge, and an c nnular conduit having an opening adjacent to the inner perimeter of the r0- tatable member.

6. A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, a rotatable tubular member, a tubular discharge member arranged concentric with the discharge end of said tubular member, a ring conduit encircling said tubular discharge having an annular opening on the side adjacent to the rotatable member and its outer edge coinciding with the end of the rotatable member, and a flange extending from the rotatable member around said ring conduit and forming a pressure chamber therearound.

7. A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, a base, standards arranged upon said base, journal hearings on said standards, a shaft journaled in said bearings, a tubular member supported on said shaft and rotating therewith, a vertical tubular inlet leading from a pulp stock supply and discharging centrally into one end of said rotatable tubular member, means for directing the flow outwardly toward the perimeter of said rotatable member, a tubular discharge member extending upwardly from the base and having its upper end opening inwardly and located in central relation to the discharge end.0f the tubular member, an annular conduit encircling the end of the dis charge member, a pulp conduit leading from said annular conduit, and means for balancing the end thrust of the rotatable tubular member.

8. A centrifugal pulp thickener, comprising, a rotatable tubular member, means for feeding the pulp stock into one end of said member, a centrally arranged discharge conduit at the opposite end of the tubular memher, an annular conduit encircling said central discharge and adapted to receive the thickened pulp, a gage tube supported in the tubular discharge member and extending inwardly and having an angularly turned end adapted to extend outwardly toward the perimeter of the rotatable member, said tube having a transparent portion arranged outside of the discharge member and also having a discharge end carrying the fluid back to the discharge member, and means for rotating said tube to swing the inner end thereof toward and from the perimeter of the rotatable member.

JULIUS T. JAEGER. 

